Vancouver, B.C. - Race Face Components Inc. announces that it has signed Canadian trials superstar Ryan Leech to a multi-year sponsorship deal. Starting immediately and continuing through 2001, Ryan will ride Race Face parts on his bike in addition to promoting Race Face's technical and casual clothing line.

Some of Ryan's summer projects include a stint as a featured athlete on the 2000 Vans Warped Tour and as a performer at Orlando's Cirque de Soleil. This, in addition to numerous trial events and demonstrations as part of the Norco Factory Trials team and filming for Kranked IV, make for an adventure packed summer for the talented Mr. Leech.

New Ontario Athlete Development Fund

Sport Alliance of Ontario and Provincial Sport Organizations' Council announce James Worrall Athlete Development Fund

The Sport Alliance of Ontario, in partnership with the Provincial Sport Organizations' Council, is proud to announce the James Worrall Athlete Development Fund in honour of Mr. James (Jim) Worrall, OC, QC, IOC, an outstanding member of Ontario's sport community.

This Grant-In-Aid program will assist athletes in their individual development by covering expenses such as transportation, accommodation, equipment, clothing, and registration fees to competitions, clinics, and camps. The program will disburse approximately $40,000 per year. The amount of the grants will depend on the number of applicants selected.

Creation of the Fund was announced at a June 19 meeting of Provincial Sport and Recreation Organizations attended by Mr. Worrall and by the Minister for Citizenship, Culture and Recreation of Ontario, the Hon. Helen Johns. In his address to the representatives of Ontario sport, Worrall welcomed the creation of the Fund, and noted that in the enthusiasm of bidding for and hosting the 2008 Olympics it is too easy to overlook the preparation of our own athletes. If this is allowed to happen, said Worrall, "Canada will become the first country ever to host the Olympics three times and not win a gold medal in them."

James (Jim) Worrall, for whom the award is named, is one of the outstanding members of the Ontario sport community. Athlete, administrator and statesman of sport, he is renowned for having been flag bearer in the Opening Ceremonies for Canada's Olympic Team in Berlin, 1936. In 1945, upon leaving the RCAF, he re-established the Ontario Track and Field Committee (now the OTFA). He has held the position of Assistant Chef de Mission for the 1948 London and 1952 Helsinki Olympic Games and Chef de Mission for 1956 Melbourne and 1960 Rome Olympic Games. He was appointed Honorary Life President of the Canadian Olympic Association in 1989 and made an Honorary Member of the International Olympic Committee in 1976. Jim has represented Canada is some capacity at every summer Olympic Games since 1936. He was instrumental in the development of Sport Ontario, one of SAO's predecessor organizations.

The money to be distributed has been raised through the Sport Ontario Nevada ticket sales, with the majority being raised in cooperation with the Ontario 5 Pin Bowling Association. The distribution of funds has been approved by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario and will be done with the assistance of the Provincial Sport Organizations Council. Final selection approval will be given by the SAO Athletes Committee.

The Fund is open to both male and female athletes who are "Members in Good Standing" of a Provincial Sport Organization (PSO) which, in turn, is a member of the PSO Council. The athlete must be a resident of Ontario, under 18 years old, a full-time student in Ontario, and not a Nationally carded athlete, or be an athlete with a disability who is a resident of Ontario and a member of a PSO that serves persons with disabilities, and not a Nationally carded athlete.

Each Provincial Sport Organization will determine its own method and criteria for selection of candidates, with a maximum of one male and one female nominee. The PSO Council will evaluate the submissions and forward its recommendations to the SAO Athlete Committee for final decisions. Each PSO will be notified of the PSO Council/SAO decision by October 31, 2000. The SAO will distribute cheques to the recipient(s) via the PSO by November 15, 2000.